Improvement in clocks



WITNESSES G. H. BLAKESLEY. Clock.

Patented Juriel8,1878.'

BEST AVAILABLE COPY ATTORNEY EST v iLAeLEco UNITED S'ra'rns PATEN TOFFICE.

GILBERT H. BLAKESLEY, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 205,037, dated June 18,1878; application filed April 1, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, GILBERT H. BLAKESLEY, of Bristol, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, 'have'invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rotary Pendulum Clocks; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled -in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it, reference being bad to the accompanyover the same, thusrequiring considerable space, and also necessitating a particular formof clock-case to coverthe movement.

The object of my invention is to provide rotary-pendulum clocks of suchconstruction that the pendulum and the means employed for driving thesame shall together operate to govern and regulate the train of gearing,whereby a lower rate of revolution of the pendulum will insure equallyas good results as is now secured by the ordinary rotary-pendulummovements, and also admit of a much more simple and economicalconstruction of parts to attain that end.

Again, another object of my invention is to provide a rotary-pendulumclock of such construction that the movement may be placed in a verticalposition, the same as the movements of ordinary pendulum-clocks, andthus render the finished clock of as compact form as is possible, andrender it adapted for the ordinary form of case, or for fiat-sided glasscovers that occupy little width'of space.

- My invention consists, in a rotary-pendulum clock, of the combination,with a crown-wheel, of a worm located parallel with the frame of theclock-movement, whereby the latter is adapted to be arranged in avertical position, and impart a rotary movement to the pendulum by meansof an arm attached to the upperv to or from said crown-wheel, andthereby allow of the relative adjustment of said parts to secure thedesired escapement.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of aclock embodying my invention, the upper portion of the dial beingremoved to clearly show the arrangement of the escapement. Fig. 2 is anedge view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detached view of the crown-wheeland worm with the pendulum-arm removed.

A represents the front plate or frame of an ordinary clock-movement. Thetrain may be of the ordinary kind, or it may be arranged in any desiredmanner, as my improvement is. adapted for application to any form orstyle of clock-movement. B is the crown-wheel, the pinion of which issupported at its forward end by means of the ordinary bridge 0.

To the frame A is secured a triangular bridge, D, by meansof a stud orrivet, a, the latter being located above or below the center of thebridge, for a purpose hereinafter described. E is a worm-shaft, and ispivoted in the arms I) I) of the triangular bridge D.

The worm F may be turned out from a solid shaft, but is preferablyformed by twisting a polished piece of steel wire spirally about theshaft E, and rigidly securing it thereto. The upper pivot c of theworm-shaft E is made of sutficient length to extend above the arm I) ofthe bridge, to permit of the attachment of a socket, G. An arm, H,formed with a return bend, is secured to said socket G. The rotarypendulum I is suspended from any suitable support, J, by a thread orcord, K, and'by means of said cord the pendulum may be verticallyadjusted.

The pendulum may be of any fanciful design, form, or style, the lowerportion being provided with a pendant, d, which is inserted within theloop formed on the arm H, and, as the arm is revolved, it operates toimpart a rotary movement to the pendulum.

1.16 triangular bridge D, which carries the .orm, may be adjusted orturned on its stud to carry the worm either toward or away from thecenter of the crown-wheel, and thus admit of theadjustment andregulation of the mesh of the teeth of the crown-wheel with the worm. Itwill be observed that the train does not necessitate high-numberedpinions, as every tooth of the crown-wheel imparts a complete revolutionto the worm-shaft, and consequently a complete revolution of thependulum. The Worm is noiseless in operation, and, in connection withthe pendulum, serves the important function of a regulator to the trainof gearing, and thus allows of the employment of the ordinarylow-numbered pinions, which is a great desideratum, both in themanufacture and in the actual wear of the parts of a clockmovement.

A rotary-pendulum clock embodying my invention is simple and ofeconomical construction, and of great durabilityin actual operation.These clocks occupy the mininum amount of space, and any of the ordinarycases may be employed in connection with said movements; or flattenedglass covers may be used to cover the movements. As the movement isadapted to be arranged in a vertical position, dust and dirt are notliable to lodge on the frames and collect around the pivots, as is thecase with rotarypendulum clocks as ordinarily con structed. Again, theweight of the several pinions and wheels of the movement is equallydistributed on the opposite pivots of the several parts, therebyinsuring a more equable wear of the running parts of the clock than isthe case when the parts of the clock are supported on end, as in theordinary flat clocks, heretofore referred to.

The clock-movements may be constructed at a small initial cost, as acomparatively slow motion is amply sufficient to impart sufficientvelocity to the pendulum, the latter acting in conjunction with the wormto regulate the train of gearing.

After the clock has been in operation for BEST AVAILABLE co y quite alength of time, and the eseapement becomes slightly worn, by simplysetting up the worm toward the crown-wheel the mesh between the worm andthe teeth'of the crownwheel is readily adjusted and made perfect.

Instead of employing a cord, K, to suspend the pendulum, I may use a rodof fanciful design, and connect the same with its support and thependulum by means of a cord or other flexible connection, and yet securea perfect and reliable pendulum attachment.

It is evident that many slight changes, both in the construction andarrangement of the several parts of the clock, and especially of theeseapement, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of myinvention, and hence I do not limit myself to the exact construction andarrangement of parts shown and described; but

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the crown-wheel of a clock, of a worm-shaftarranged parallel with the frame or plate of the clock movement, saidworm-shaft provided with an arm for imparting a rotary movement to thependulum, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the crown-wheel of a clock, of a worm adaptedto be laterally adjusted relative to said crown-wheel, substantially asset forth.

3. The combination, with the crown-wheel of a clock, of a worm shaftsupported in a bridge adjustably secured to the clock-frame,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the crown-wheel of a clock-movement, of a wormpivoted within the arms of a triangular bridge, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

GILBERT H. BLAKESLEY.

Witnesses:

SILAS M. NORTON, Gno. A. GowDY.

